Report to the Community ADA - Shasta County Office of Education

Shasta County Office Of Education Report To The Community
2025-26 Year In Review

MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
On behalf of the 400+ employees at SCOE, thank you for your interest in education. Shasta County is home to more than 37,000 children, from infants to high school seniors, and every one of them matters. Our schools are filled with caring, committed staff who partner with families to help students succeed. Whether in classrooms, on buses, playgrounds, cafeterias, or boardrooms, educators across our county step up every day to create opportunities for kids.

At SCOE, we strive to lead with excellence, supporting schools and communities so every student graduates prepared for college, career, and life. We take this responsibility seriously, aligning our actions with our core values and unlocking our greatest strength—working together to make a difference.

Partnership is essential. If you have ideas, feedback, or want to join in the work of supporting Shasta County students, I invite you to connect. Let’s make the 37,000 children of Shasta County our shared agenda. Together, we can make incredible things happen for kids.

Mike Freeman
Shasta County Superintendent of Schools

SCOE'S 4 PILLARS

Award Icon in blue with orange star in the middle

Organization-Wide
Culture of Excellence

Safe and Supportive
Learning Environments

Icon of a person walking up stairs to a orange graduation cap.

Successful Student
Programs

Icon of hands holding orange puzzle pieces

Supportive Community
Partnerships

OUR MISSION

OUR VISION

CORE VALUES AND PROMISES

EQUITY STATEMENT

BOARD OF EDUCATION

STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS

Fingertip Facts In Education For Shasta County

The FOLLOWING FIGURES ARE FROM 2024-25:

The Shasta County Office of Education provides a wide range of services to 25 school districts in Shasta County. School districts in Shasta County operate autonomously with their own elected governing boards and appointed Superintendent.

The Shasta County Office of Education is a service organization and an intermediate unit between local school districts and the California State Department of Education. Programs are offered for at-risk youth, early childhood, special education, and after-school.

For more information about these programs, please visit our website at www.shastacoe.org. The general information line for our main administration office is (530) 225-0200.

26,590 Students Enrolled in TK-12
91 Public Schools Including Charters
25 Districts Including SCOE student programs45 Elementary/Middle Schools
2 Junior/Senior High Schools
6 High Schools
20 Other Schools
15 Charter Schools
Regional Occupational Prgrams

California's Education System

California’s Education System

California’s education system is supported by three key levels working together:

California Department of Education & State Board of Education
Provides regulations, funding, and fundamental education policy for California schools.

Shasta County Office of Education
Provides support and services to local schools and districts, serving as a liaison between local education agencies and the state.

Schools & Districts
Provide the day-to-day education and learning experiences for students in their communities.

Data Source: DataQuest

Total Enrollment By Underserved Populations

Enrollment by Ethnic Category

Shasta County’s student population represents a diverse range of ethnic backgrounds.

White: 61.1% (16,255 students)
Hispanic or Latino: 19.9% (5,279 students)
Two or More Races: 7.4% (1,968 students)
American Indian or Alaska Native: 4.0% (1,052 students)
Asian: 3.8% (1,000 students)
Not Reported: 1.6% (435 students)
African American: 1.5% (402 students)
Filipino: 0.4% (115 students)
Pacific Islander: 0.3% (84 students)

Data Source: DataQuest

2025–26 Students Served by Shasta County Office of Education Programs

Shasta County Office of Education programs provide educational services, specialized support, and learning opportunities for students, children, and families throughout Shasta County.

Environmental & Science Education

Whiskeytown Environmental School

2,774 students participated in WES field labs.

Schreder Planetarium

3,403 students participated in field trips.
1,363 members of the public visited the planetarium.

Early Childhood Services

61 training events were provided for 431 early educators.
456 preschool children were served in 20 classrooms.
3,449 children received child care payment support.
129 children ages 0–5 were assessed for special education.
1,029 child development screenings were completed.
26 families participated in family wellness nights.

Other Programs

3,879 students received Special Education services (ages 0–22).
39 students attended Excel Academy.
109 students attended Tri Mountain Academy.
175 students participated in Independent Study.
1,800 students participated in Project SHARE.
28 graduates completed the SCOE Administrative Credential Program.

Transportation

SCOE transportation services traveled 386,955 miles during the 2025–26 school year.

Shasta County Board of Education Key Initiatives

Building Strong Confident Readers

Literacy is at the heart of a multifaceted effort to build strong, confident readers. Students who can decode words with ease by the end of the primary grades will be in the best position to grasp information in all subjects and make the most of their education. Some of the many highlights of this work:

Community-Wide Events like the "Sentenced" community screening, Shasta Reads, Drop Everything and Read, and the Love of Literacy Book Drive built awareness about the importance of reading.

Reading Pals grew from 2 to 12 sites, serving 185 children. One principal said, "We have definitely noticed student confidence in reading!"

Support for Educators included a multilingual learner support series, Getting Reading Right training, a community of practice to support an evidence- and research-based phonic program, training in Expository Reading and Writing Curriculum, English Language Proficiency Assessment testing and coordinator support to districts, adoption of a reading difficulties risk screener, and much more.

Our Native Success Program provided 20 Ignite tutoring licenses for students at Burney Elementary and gave books by Native authors to families at two local schools, among other endeavors.

Substance Use Prevention:

SCOE's Substance Use Prevention Education Program has been hard at work, equipping Shasta County students of all ages with the knowledge to make informed, healthy decisions. More than 6,500 students received our education on prevention. We engaged parents, guardians, and the community at 40+ events to provide support for having meaningful conversations with youth. Working with local partners, we connected students with intervention, cessation, and counseling services.

A 20-member peer education program launched last school year, where high school students speak to younger students about healthy choices. Twelve students were part of SCOE’s first Substance Use Prevention Youth Commission, and one of their projects was creating a Public Service Announcement with our local PBS station, KIXE.

Staffing Shortage

One of education’s biggest challenges is finding and keeping qualified staff. The Shasta County Board of Education has adopted the staffing shortage as its key initiative, exploring a long-term, countywide approach toward recruitment and retention. The initiative is creating new pathways for local people to become educators, with a focus on high-need areas such as early childhood, special education and STEM. Partnerships, tuition assistance, internships and other “grow your own” strategies are helping build a stronger local pipeline. Just as important, the initiative focuses on helping new educators succeed. SCOE is providing professional learning, coaching, mentorship and administrator support to give new teachers the support they need throughout their first year and beyond.

Thanks to SCOE-administered grants, 7 aspiring educators earned bachelor’s degrees, 3 earned associate degrees, 4 earned teaching credentials, and 11 earned California Child Development Permits.

Community Connect

Students thrive when their families have what they need to succeed. When challenges arise and needs aren't being met, connecting families with the right resources at the earliest possible opportunity makes all the difference. Community Connect partners with schools to refer families for support outside the school’s traditional sphere of influence when external factors affect attendance or behavior, or families have housing instability or other essential needs. After receiving a referral through a dedicated case manager reaches out to build a trusting relationship with the family. Together, they identify needs, build an action plan, and navigate community-based resources together. They maintain ongoing contact throughout the process to remove barriers and ensure families have what they need. Services are offered over the phone or in person and are entirely free, confidential, and voluntary.

During the 2025–26 school year, Community Connect received 1,498 referrals and connected 87% of families with resources. Of those referrals, 80% were accepted, serving 880 households, including 1,996 children and 1,453 adults.

Resources Requested by Families
Families requested support in several key areas:

Basic Needs: 614 requests
Mental and Behavioral Health: 458 requests
Parenting and Family Support: 177 requests
Other Support Services: 81 requests
Physical Health: 59 requests
Academic and School Success: 56 requests

Success Stories:

A path to a safe home: A single mother and domestic-violence survivor worked with her coordinator on healing and financial planning, completed HUD orientation, received a housing voucher, and is now searching for a safe home for herself and her student.

Support that adds up: A grandfather raising his grandson received help finding home-delivered meals, utility discounts, a Senior Food Box, and transportation assistance so he could continue getting his grandson to school.

From a tent to a new start: A mother living at a campsite with her two children received food, hygiene supplies, camping gear, health and food coverage, and employment support with the help of Community Connect and school district staff. Her daughter graduated with straight A's.

"You were the only one who came through for us."

Courage to ask for help: A mother concerned about her son's school behavior openly discussed her past struggles and advocated for him. Community Connect and the school connected the family with emotional and academic supports.

Building Stronger Educators EdCon 2026

The 2026 Shasta County EdCon offered a full day of dynamic professional learning, inspiration, and thinking for its 550 attendees. The event was designed for TK through eighth-grade educators, counselors, and administrators, with sessions focused on insights and tools that could be immediately implemented in classrooms and schools.

550 Attendees
37 Presenters
61 Sessions
13 Districts & Charter Schools

Voices From EdCon

“Our job is to ensure that all students have the opportunity for an excellent education. There is a child whose life will be changed by what you do.”

— Heather Armelino, Superintendent, Enterprise Elementary School District

“The work that you do is difficult but it is so very important that we take opportunities to fully engage and learn from those experts around us.”

— Mike Freeman, Shasta County Superintendent of Schools

Building Confident Math Educators

Through SCOE’s Rural Math Collaborative, local educators spent two days developing their skills as math coaches and continued the conversation and learning throughout the year with a regional community of practice. Together, they learned strategies to support teachers, build confidence, and ultimately improve math learning for students.

SCOE also facilitated the review of 19 different math curriculum publishers to streamline the selection process for local schools. Educators from approximately 20 districts and charter schools explored the materials, narrowing down the best options to pilot in their classrooms for the 2026–27 school year. SCOE is honored to provide this specialized support to our schools to ensure students have access to high-quality math materials.

Supporting Students and Families

Students, Schools & Community

Every Student Succeeding
Brave. Determined. Encouraging. Courageous. Hopeful. Those were just a few of the words used to describe the 19 students recognized at SCOE’s 9th annual Every Student Succeeding luncheon. These resilient students have faced challenges including poverty, homelessness, illness, and trauma, yet they rewrote their own stories, turning obstacles into opportunities and setbacks into strength.

Principal For A Day
Community leaders got a first-hand look at the joys and challenges of leading a school during the 34th annual Principal for a Day in March. Twenty-three principals opened up their schools to community leaders.

SCOE Open House
SCOE’s first Open House event drew about 100 people to the Magnolia campus to take a closer look at the many programs and services SCOE offers in support of students, families, and educators. Highlights included program information shared by staff, a school bus tour, a planetarium tour, and more.

Father Effect
The first-ever "The Father Effect: Moments That Matter" event brought together fathers, father figures, families, educators, and community partners in April for a day of connection and reflection. From real stories to practical strategies, the message was clear: when fathers feel seen, valued, and supported, they show up differently, and it changes everything for children and families.

Rural Community Schools Mini-Conference
The North Star Rural Technical Assistance Center, led by SCOE, hosted its first mini-conference about community school practice in small and rural settings. Practitioners led the presentations during the full-day session that brought together people from all over Northern California.

STEM Career Day
More than 1,000 students descended upon the Shasta District Fairgrounds in November for the 12th Annual STEM Career Day. This action-packed regional event encourages North State students to prepare for and pursue career opportunities in STEM fields, and this year’s theme was “Planting Seeds of Opportunity.

Spelling Bee
The 2026 Shasta County Spelling Bee engaged 82 spellers, switching from an oral to a written format this year to better align with the state spelling bee format and to make it more fair, as all students spelled the same words. Elementary bee winners were Rhea Little of Turtle Bay School and Max Gumm of Shasta Meadows. Middle school winners were Bastian Adams of Sequoia Middle School and Roxanne Kidson of Montgomery Creek.

International Day of Planetariums
The second annual International Day of Planetariums engaged families, educators, and science enthusiasts to celebrate the 101st anniversary of planetariums around the world. Co-hosted by Friends of the Schreder Planetarium, the free, family-friendly science festival included hands-on activities, immersive science experiences, and a chance to explore the wonders of the universe.

Safety Summit
The Navigating the Digital World safety summit dove into the realities of today’s digital landscape. The event featured a one-hour panel discussion moderated by Common Sense Media, and key topics included brain development and screen time challenges, social media algorithms and their impact on youth mental health, navigating unsafe online situations, emerging technologies, and more.

Student Voices Panel
Student board members Jacob Garcia and Abby Deng brought nine other middle school and high school students together for an insightful Student Voices Panel discussion. Some of the hot topics included AI usage, cell phones, post-graduation preparedness, belonging, school safety, and student-staff relationships. The adults in the room learned a lot, and the students’ voices were featured in the March episode of the Inspire Shasta podcast.

Prepared For the Future College and Career

Five-Year Cohort Graduation Rate

Shasta County: 90.5%
California: 88.7%

Career & Technical Education Pathway Completions

2020–21: 387
2021–22: 309
2022–23: 379
2023–24: 431
2024–25: 792

Students Enrolled in College the Fall Immediately After High School

2021: 44%
2022: 41%
2023: 45%
2024: 54%
2025: 55%

Most Common Colleges and Universities Attended by Shasta County Graduates

Shasta College
Chico State University
Butte College
UC Davis
Cal Poly

FAFSA Completion Rates
2021

Reach Higher Shasta: 71%
State: 51%

2022

Reach Higher Shasta: 68%
State: 53%

2023

Reach Higher Shasta: 79%
State: 61%

2024

Reach Higher Shasta: 65%
State: 57%

2025

Reach Higher Shasta: 85%
State: 65%

2026

Reach Higher Shasta: 75%
State: 71%

High School Graduates Earning the State Seal of Biliteracy

2021: 0
2022: 10
2023: 9
2024: 27
2025: 99

Fiscal Summaries

Fiscal Responsibility Is at the Core of What We Do
The following information reflects SCOE’s general fund and related funds. It does not include financial information for local school districts, which have their own budgets.

2025–26 Total Revenue Sources

General Fund: $52,210,111
Early Childhood Services: $40,603,859
Special Education Pass-Through: $27,010,153
All Other Funds: $950,266

2025–26 General Fund Revenue Sources

Local Control Funding Formula: $17,491,280
Other State Revenue: $17,641,711
Interagency and Local Revenue: $14,016,437
Federal Revenue: $3,012,194
Transfers In and Other Sources: $48,489

2025–26 Expenditures by Object

Classified Salaries: $21,135,252
Employee Benefits: $12,445,265
Services and Other Operating: $10,770,788
Certificated Salaries: $6,662,619
Capital Outlay: $3,138,032
Other Outgo and Transfers Out: -$2,167,938
Books and Supplies: $1,861,509

2025–26 Expenditures by Function

Pupil Services: $14,994,865
General Administration, Board and Support: $10,587,051
Instructional Related Services: $10,506,673
Certificated Salaries: $6,662,619
Maintenance, Operations and Facilities: $6,293,916
Instruction: $6,180,666
Debt Service, Interfund Transfers and Other: $430,163

Supporting Our Districts

SOME OF THE MANY WAYS SCOE SUPPORTS OUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Administrative Services:
Business guidance and training
All business services for districts under 100 students
Payroll tax reporting and payments, retirement reporting
Substitute services, including waiving substitute fingerprinting fees Paraprofessional testing
Processing of Tobacco-free Campus Certifications every three years, including resources, materials, and assistance with necessary compliance updates
Crisis communication support
FOCUS (Focus On Children Under Stress), first responders helping schools know when a child has been exposed to trauma
Text alert option for school lockdowns requested by law enforcement
Fiscal and payroll services under contract as requested
Collection of school impact fees on behalf of districts
Labor Law Consortium
Information technology, network support, and network server space

Family/Student Needs:
Food assistance and cash aid outreach and enrollment
Certifying that children are eligible for free meals without an application
Afterschool meals
Trauma Informed Care parent training
Family Wellness Project
Nutritious meals and snacks through the Child and Adult Care Food Program
Coordination of foster youth transportation
Triple P - Positive Parenting Program

After School and School Enrichment Programs:
Assemblies for students, such as substance abuse prevention and School Kindness Week *
Substance abuse prevention outreach
Project SHARE after-school and intersession enrichment
Whiskeytown Environmental School field labs
Schreder Planetarium

Transportation:
Special education transportation
Field trip transportation
School bus driver training and documentation
Vehicle maintenance

Early Childhood Services:
California State Preschool Program
Community Care Licensing support
Early Intervention Program (assessments & direct services, ages 0-3)
Child Find services for students with disabilities
Licensed childcare locator
California General Child Care
Universal Pre-Kindergarten program development and implementation, early education and teacher development
Payment to districts for child care and early learning
Inclusive Early Education Expansion Program for children with disabilities
Pre-kindergarten and family literacy
Local Childcare Policy Council, planning for child care and development services

Professional Development:
Professional development (free if SCOE provides training,
discounted if not)
Differentiated Assistance support for improvement in identified districts
Support for new school nurses and food service directors
Data displays (academic, absenteeism, suspensions, etc.)
Communities of Practice: Alternative education administrators, school counselors, administrators, and more
Pre-kindergarten, transitional kindergarten, and kindergarten educator scholarships
Workforce pathways
CalHOPE social emotional learning
Learning Communities for Native Student Success
Ignite Reading Tutoring
Early Math Grant
Transitional kindergarten implementation support and set-up
Motivational Interviewing
Individual teacher coaching
CPR/First Aid training for staff
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) multi-year coaching

Attendance, Behavior, Family Support:
Homeless and foster youth liaison support and family support
SCOE Community Schools Consortium
School Attendance Supervisor Annual Certifications
School Attendance Review Team Training and Support and Truancy Court
Supporting foster youth, including outlining roles and responsibilities of local entities that serve them (AB 2083) and educational case management
School Attendance Review Board
Bridges Behavioral and Mental Health Services
Community Connect (braided funding from a variety of sources)

Special Education Support:
Individual Family Service Plan (ages 3-5)/Individualized Education Program (ages 5 & up) transition support for children with special needs
Students with disabilities Community of Practice
Adaptive equipment for full access to preschool environments
Special education assessments
Psychologists and nursing services

SCOE'S Schools

Tri-Mountain Academy
Incarcerated youth receive year-round education and support at Shasta County’s Tri Mountain Academy.

Students earn academic credits through direct instruction delivered by credentialed teachers. To ensure every student’s IEP goals and service requirements are fully met, general education teachers work alongside resource specialists and paraeducators.

Students can also participate in Career Technical Education courses and dual-enrollment college classes. All students have access to educational technology and online applications for both credit recovery and advancement.

Tri Mountain Academy Highlights

50 students from Tri Mountain Academy and Shasta County Independent Study earned their food handler and CPR certifications.
27 students were on the honor roll.
16 students achieved perfect attendance.
There was a 266.6% increase in the number of students completing at least one semester of a college course.
FAFSA completion rate: 89.29%.

Shasta County Independent Study
This school offers an alternative to conventional educational settings, allowing 6th-12th grade

students to complete coursework independently under the supervision of a credentialed teacher.

Students meet individually with an assigned teacher a minimum of once per week. SCIS provides the flexibility to meet students’ specific needs, interests, and learning styles. Our Independent Study teachers use state and district-adopted curriculum to ensure students meet or exceed California graduation requirements.

Shasta County Excel Academy
Shasta County Excel Academy serves K–8 students who experience challenges in regulating their emotions and behaviors and who may require additional supports beyond what their district schools can provide.

Students are placed at Excel Academy through district referrals and must have an active Individualized Education Program (IEP). The program is designed to meet each student’s unique needs and equip them with the skills necessary for a successful return to their district school.

Excel Academy Highlights

12 community field trips
85% of IEP behavior goals met
43% of students transitioned back to their comprehensive school site
91.5% attendance

SCOE Preschools
SCOE offers inclusive, high-quality state preschool programs in 20 classrooms on district campuses throughout Shasta County, as well as in family child care homes.

Full- and part-day options are available. These spaces provide children ages 0–5 opportunities to learn together through play, develop their social skills, and build on what they already know and can do. Programs provide materials and experiences that are challenging while allowing children to self-discover.

Preschool Highlights

20 classrooms on district campuses throughout Shasta County
Programs also available in family child care homes
Full- and part-day options available
Serves children ages 0–5
Inclusive opportunities for children to learn together through play and develop social skills

Project SHARE
Project SHARE — Shasta Health, Academic and Recreation Enrichment — is a collaborative effort between the Shasta County Office of Education, school districts, and support agencies.

The program provides safe, fun, structured out-of-school-time activities for approximately 1,800 students each year.

Project SHARE Highlights

Approximately 1,800 students served each year
Available on 19 elementary school campuses
Available on 3 high school campuses
Provides structured out-of-school-time activities
Collaborative effort involving SCOE, school districts, and support agencies

2025-26 Educator Appreciation Awards (SCOE recipients only)

Golden Bell

SCOE is the proud winner of its fourth Golden Bell award, presented by the California School Board Association in the Student Support Services category for the School-Based Food Pantry Program. Students and families across Shasta County are benefiting from the School-Based Food Pantry Program, a partnership between SCOE and the Dignity Health Connected Living Food Bank. This program has expanded since its launch in 2022-23 from 10 to 52 sites across 21 districts, serving nearly 2,200 households and 4,100 children last year. By addressing food insecurity, the program provides vital nourishment and strengthens the connection between home and school, positively impacting student well-being and family stability.

Inspire Shasta Season 2

Episode 14: More Than After School: How Project SHARE Builds Connection, Confidence, and Community
Nick Lott, incoming Director of Project SHARE; Joshua Cohen, Project SHARE Area Coordinator; Tiffany Dorroh and Tom Vanderpool, Co-Directors of Redding STEM Academy

Episode 15: Beyond the Classroom: How Alternative Education Builds Hope and Second Chances
Jill North, Principal, Tri Mountain Academy; Cheyenne Mizenko, Principal, Excel Academy

Episode 16: Rebuilding Wonder — The Past, Present & Future of Whiskeytown Environmental School
Nathan Fairchild, SCOE Science Director and Director of Whiskeytown Environmental School; Dr. Melinda Kashuba, President, WES Community

Episode 17: Student Voice — What Young People Want Adults to Hear
Jacob Garcia, SCOE Student Board Member, West Valley High School; Abby Deng, SCOE Student Board Member, Enterprise High School; Emily Rogers, Youth Commission Member, Central Valley High School; Reese DeCosta, Youth Commission Member, Shasta High School

Episode 18: Safety Through Preparedness & Partnership
Ayla Tucker, SCOE Safety Director; Jennifer James, Region 3 Regional Disaster Medical Health Specialist, Sierra-Sacramento Valley EMS Agency

Episode 19: Voices of Our Future, A Student-Led Dialogue Student Voices panel featuring London Belcastro, Gemma King, Reese Corona, Kadence Angel, Ethan, Alyssa Moore, Marcus Newell, Elly Deng and Abby Deng, with SCOE Student Board Members Jacob Garcia and Abby Deng facilitating.

Episode 20: Rural Roots, Powerful Voices: Advocacy for Rural Schools
Assemblymember Heather Hadwick; Lauren Giessner and Alexa Iniguez, Fall River High School students and FFA members

Episode 21: Building Innovators: How STEM is Transforming Learning
Brian Grigsby, CTE teacher at Shasta High School; Kadence Angel, Shasta High School student; Catherine Thompson, SCOE Director of School and District Support

In This Section

Shasta County Office Of Education Report To The Community
2025-26 Year In Review

SCOE'S 4 PILLARS

Fingertip Facts In Education For Shasta County

California's Education System

California’s Education System

Total Enrollment By Underserved Populations

Enrollment by Ethnic Category

2025–26 Students Served by Shasta County Office of Education Programs

Environmental & Science Education

Early Childhood Services

Other Programs

Transportation

Shasta County Board of Education Key Initiatives

Community Connect

Building Stronger Educators EdCon 2026

Building Confident Math Educators

Supporting Students and Families

Students, Schools & Community

Prepared For the Future College and Career

Fiscal Summaries

Supporting Our Districts

SCOE'S Schools

2025-26 Educator Appreciation Awards (SCOE recipients only)

Golden Bell

Inspire Shasta Season 2

Links & Resources

Shasta County Office Of Education Report To The Community 2025-26 Year In Review

SCOE'S 4 PILLARS

Shasta County Office Of Education Report To The Community
2025-26 Year In Review